The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-03
ANECDOTES OF NAPOLEON.
Ills PERSONAL HABITS IN PALACE AND CAMP
"A PETITION TO THE KING OF ROME.

HIS thhSONAL HAbIIS In HAl4hOh AMI Va 06
"A PETITION TO THE KING OF ROME.
Having got rid of Josephine by divorce,
says ST. James Gazette. Napoleon found
q successor to her in Marie Louise of |
Austria, who is thus described by Mime.
Durand:
Marie Louise was then 1871 years old;
she had majestic figure, a noble car
riage, a great deal IF freshness and bloom, |
fair hair, which WAS not insipid, blue |
eyes, but they had animation IN them,
hands and feet which might have served
as models for sculptor. She was, per-
haps, q little too stout-a defect she soon
got rid of in France. Such were the per
sonal advantages which we're first re-
marked in her. Nothing could be more
gracious, more amiable, than her face,
when she was quite at ease, either III her
private life or in the society of those per-
sons with whom she was particularly in
innate; but in public, and especially on
her first arrival in France, her timidity
gave her an embarrassed air which many
| people mistook for haughtiness. She
! had been very carefully educated. No
woman could have suited Napoleon any
| better.
When Napoleon married Princess
| Marie Louise he was Al years of ige, and
| here is an account of his personal habits:
In camp, and during his early cam
| paigns, Napoleon feared no fatigue; he
| braved the worst weather, slept under a
wretched tent, and seemed to forget all
care for his person. In his palace he
bathed almost every day, rubbed his
whole body over with eau de cologne,
and sometimes changed his linen several
times day. His fsvorite costume was
that of the mounted Chasseurs de la
| Garde. When travelling he did not care
what sort of lodging he had, provided
that no ray of light could get into his
| bedroom; he could not bear even a night
lamp. His table was supplied with all
the dalntiest dishes, but he never touched
them. HIS favorite dish was grilled
breast of mutton, or a roast fowl with
lentils or baricot beans. He was very
| particular about the quality of bread and
he drank none but the best wine, and
very little of 1t. 1t has been stated that
he drank tght or ten cups of coffee daily
but this is a fable to be discarded with
so many others. He took a small cup of
coffee after his breakfast and the same
after his dinner. He ate very fast and
rose the moment he was done without
troubling himself as to whether those
who were admitted to his table had had
time to dine. 1t has also been asserted
that he took the greatest precautions
against poison; this too is pure false
hood. He spoke in loud voice, and
when he was in a merry mood his peais
of laughter could be heard from affair."
He was fond of singing, though he had
q bad voice, and never could sing an air
in tune.
When Marie Louise bore a son who
was designated king of Rome the empor
er was highly pleased and took great
interest in the child, frolic with whom
always put him into good humor. Per
sons who came at such times to solicit
favors were pretty sure to be gracously
received.
NJ. V, man of real talent, who
was at once highly informed and very
poor, asked for an appointment, but,
having no Oatron, three to four petitions
which be presented never reached the
hands of the emperor Worn out, i'm
patient, and daily growing poorer, be
devised a stratagem which would have
been worthy of a courtier of Louis XIV.
Necessity frequently inspires happy
little pacet, which he addressed to ellis
Majesty the King of Rome" He only
asked for place worth 100 louis; this
was a very modest request. Full of the
hope of success he went to NJ. D., a
superior officer who was aid de camp to
the emperor, stated his distressful case,
and showed him the placet. NJ. D.,
whose kindness was equal to his valor,
|
Napoleon. His majesty took the paper
and remarked the superscription with
evident pleasure as we'll as surprise
"Sir," said the applicant, ''tbat is pc.
tition for his majesty the king of Rome. 4"
Every well, then" said the emperor,
''let il be taken to it's address," The
king of Rome was then 6 months old. A
chamberlain was ordered to conduct the
petitioner into the presence of his baby
majesty. NJ. N, seeing that fortune
smiled upon him, was equal to the occa
sion. He presented himself before the
cradle of the king, and after he had made
a profnnd and respectful reverence he
unforded the paper and read its contents
in loud and distinct voice. The in
fart king having uttered some iuarticu-
late sounds, NJ. V and the chamber
lain again saluted his majesty aud re
turned to the empor, who asked, with
the greatest seriousness. what answer
they had obtained. ''Sirs," said the
chamberlain, ''his majesty the king of
Rome made no reply" every well,
said Napoleon. ''siIence gives consent
Shortly afterward NJ. V was appoint
ed to post in department administra-
ton at a salary of 5000 francs.